Bringing the Energy-Water Nexus to Life

The first International Water Summit takes place 15-17 January 2013 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, as part of a far reaching sustainability vision.

General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, who convened the meeting, said that “water is more important than oil for the UAE” indicating that an economy based on oil is placing water at the top of its agenda.

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is the most water scarce region in the world: home to 6.3% of the world’s population but only 1.4% of the world’s renewable fresh water. As a natural extension of the UAE’s commitment to sustainability, the first International Water Summit is co-located with the World Future Energy Summit, bringing to life the nexus between the vital resources of water and energy.

The Water Summit is being introduced as a new global platform for promoting water sustainability in arid regions.